Norbu Designer Rugs specialize in hand-knotted high-quality designer carpets, made from Tibetan Highland wool and Chinese silk. The rugs are made in the Tsering family production facility in Kathmandu. Available in multiple sizes, their rug designs range from the traditional to the more contemporary. Carpets can also be custom-made to specific design requirements. With a newly opened showroom, Norbu Rugs now welcome orders of any size and design. They pride themselves in having their customers involved in each step of the carpet-creation process, from the initial conception to the shipping and delivery of the final product. I went along to their Shunyi showroom and met with Oliver Lyn Davies, co-founder of Norbu Designer Rugs.
Davies is from the UK, and has lived and worked in Spain, Morocco, Egypt, India, and China. After seven years working in international business development, in small and medium-sized companies in China, Davies and partner Norbu Tsering set up Norbu Designer Rugs. Tsering is Nepalese-Tibetan, and has spent his life working in the handmade Tibetan carpet industry. Formerly of Torana House carpets, and with a family production facility in Kathmandu, Tsering brings a wealth of experience to this new enterprise.
“All rugs are hand-knotted by professional weavers. Modern computer design technology, that’s available today, means we are able to produce carpet designs to the exact knot,” explains Davies. By utilizing more contemporary dye technology, the colors are fast, and guaranteed to last years without fading or wearing. This durability and high knot quality, means they are suited to traditional Tibetan patterns, but also customized modern, contemporary, and even abstract designs. “We can truly make any design a customer may desire. We are also looking at incorporating designs from history, abstract art, vase and textile designs, and coming up with carpet designs inspired by these. This is an exciting exploration for us, as well as for our customers,” says Davies.
Whether you wish to choose a design from their growing catalogue, or have a custom-made rug, Norbu can make any carpet in any size. Material choices include Tibetan wool, Chinese silk, or bamboo silk. Some carpet designs are better suited to different combinations of fibers, and Norbu’s staff can advise on which material or material combinations, would work best for your design. They deal with client orders from hotels, resorts, and institutions, or individual orders for the home. For 100% wool rugs, prices range from RMB 3,500-13,000, depending on the size, and 100% silk around RMB 4,000 per square meter.
Norbu Designer Rugs
3 Shang Pin Villa Xiao Zhen, Design Outlet, Jing Mi Lu East side (Just past Laiguangying E. Road Crossroads), Shunyi District 3号尚品小镇 京密路 望京 北京100015. Contact (158 1051 1562, enquiries@norbu-rugs.com) www.norbu-rugs.com www.facebook.com/NorbuDesignerRugs
beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.
Photos: courtesy of Norbu Designer Rugs
